This “Best Of” episode originally aired in 2013 and was voted a listener favorite. David Hiroshima is a 3rd generation Japanese-American psychologist. He shares his experience and observations counseling sexual predators (rapists and child molesters) at Coalinga, a lockdown mental hospital in central California and how he used Buddhism to help him cope.
Allen Strickland Williams is a standup comedian who shares his struggles with the stress of perfectionism and ADHD tendencies. He also opens up about the trauma of surviving a random shooting. Check out his comedy special, Ran Through, and his podcast, Finding My Audience.
Abby Reyes is an author, lawyer, and climate justice leader. She shares her story of activism, the tragic loss of her partner, and the mindfulness techniques she uses to manage her grief. Look for her new book, Truth Demands: A Memoir of Murder, Oil Wars, and the Rise of Climate Justice.
Rachel Kaplan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who focuses deeply on moving through difficult feelings in order to heal–what she calls “emotional potty training”. She opens up about her personal tragedies and what led her to this work. Look for her podcast the Healing Feeling Sh*t Show and her new book Feel, Heal, and Let That Sh*t Go: Your Guide to Emotional Resilience and Lasting Self-Love.
Bo V is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who attends Paul’s support group. They talk about the work they’re doing on self-judgment and shame, finding the perfect church after leaving Catholicism, and discovering their trans identity.
Rich Forer is a Jewish-American author and activist. He discusses his perspective of growing up Jewish, being a member of AIPAC, and how his perspective on Palestine shifted dramatically, shattering his entire worldview.
Dr. Jessica Zucker returns to the podcast for her 4th visit, focusing on the importance of talking about hard things: Cancer, miscarriages, perimenopause, and more. Watch for her new book, Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women’s Lives.
Mark M is Paul’s friend from a support group. He visits the podcast to share his story of addiction, growing up entrenched in deception, and how he eventually broke the pattern in his adult life. He digs into his complicated family life, the losses he’s suffered, and how he continues to work through it all to maintain a life of integrity.
Gary Katz is a sex addiction therapist and the founder of the Center for Intimacy Recovery. He talks about the trauma of intimate betrayal, and the importance of intimacy with the self, and offers key insights into and tips for healthy, intimate relationships.